Germany edge out Austria

Germany edged out Austria with a Michael Ballack freekick on Monday in their Euro 2008 Group B meeting to propel the three-times champions into a quarter-final meeting with Portugal. Ballack scored four minutes after the break to secure a 1-0 win that brought runners-up spot behind Croatia.

Germany came flying out of the traps as Austria began nervously and after four minutes haphazard defending allowed Germany a three-on-one but Lukas Podolski dallied and the Austria defence got back to clear.

A minute later, Germany striker Mario Gomez was guilty of a shocking miss, spooning a shot from three yards out off his shin and high into the air before Gyorgy Garics got back to head it off the line. Gomez then got clear down the left before shooting straight at Jurgen Macho in Austria's goal.

On 19 minutes Erwin Hoffer was put clean through by Martin Harnik but an appalling first touch gave Jens Lehmann the chance to dash out and smother the danger. Rene Aufhauser then forced Lehmann into a save before Macho tipped a fierce drive from Podolski around the post in an entertaining first period.

Five minutes before the break tempers frayed on the touchline between the rival coaches and the fourth official until referee Manuel Gonzalez of Spain took the draconian measure of sending both coaches to the stands.

Austria had a great chance just after the restart with a two-on-one break but Hoffer, who was more of a hindrance than a help in the most crucial moments, failed to release the nippy Umit Korkmaz and was dispossed by Per Mertesacker.

Germany made them pay dearly on 49 minutes after Andreas Ivanschitz had brought down Lahm and Ballack rifled home a bullet free-kick from almost 30 yards that fizzed past Macho into the top corner.

Austria were willing but offered little in terms of quality and Lehmann was rarely tested while at the other end Podolski shot just wide from long range on 54 minutes.

The co-hosts threw caution to the wind late on with Ivanschitz bustling through only to be denied by Lahm before Hoffer turned sharply but fired well wide from 12 yards.

And a minute from time Miroslav Klose should have buried the game for Germany but he shot straight at Macho before Torsten Frings and substitute Oliver Neuville both missed chances on the counter-attack.